Continuing breast feeding


1.  Breast Milk's benefits after the First Year of Life

  • Baby's brain development.
  • AA Pediatrics recommendations.
  • World Health Organization/UNICEF recommendations.
  • Solids and breastfeeding.

2.  Nursing an older baby.

  • Touching-base feedings.
  • Facilitating independence.
  • Naps and bedtime.

3.  Cultural Norms

  • Understanding by your family and friends.
  • What is "closet nursing"?
  • Working with your health care providers.
  • Setting rules and expectations.
  • "Code Words"
  • World wide average length of breast feeding: 4.2 years.

4.  Breast feeding during pregnancy

  • Contraindications
  • Mom's nutrition.
  • Issues: breast tenderness, milk supply, taste of milk to baby.

5.  Tandem nursing

  • New baby always eats first.
  • Supply will meet demand.

6.  Types of Weaning

  • Gradually, mutually-agreeable (baby-led)
  • Deliberate (mother-led)
  • Abrupt, emergency weaning.
  • Occasionally a baby will self-wean abruptly.

7.  Changing Feedings

  • Substitute bottle or cup for replaced feedings.
  • Replace one feeding at a time.
  • Give your breasts time to adjust as each feeding is dropped.

8.  Nutritional Guidelines

  • Babies less than one year old should receive formula for most replaced feedings.
  • Babies over one year may use a cup.
  • Whole Cow's milk after one year if there are no family allergies to consider.
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Did You Know?

A Few Facts about Breastfeeding

  • Nursing babies need no other food for at least 4-6 months...not even water!
  • A little breast milk is better than none.  Even one feeding of mother's first milk (colostrum) is helpful for the baby.
  • Most nursing mothers do not have to avoid favorite foods, and they do not have to drink milk to make milk.
  • Sore nipples are not caused by the length of feeding.
  • Breastfeeding should not be painful - if it is, please contact us or an IBCLC Lactation Consultant for help
  • Completely breastfed babies rarely get constipated.
  • Women who have breastfed a baby have a reduced risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.
  • Pregnancy may cause breasts to sag - breastfeeding doesn't.
  • There are many ways to combine working and nursing.  Moms do it every day!

Why Should I Breastfeed?

Reasons That Breast Milk is the Best Milk!

  • Breast milk is the ONLY complete source of all the nutrients your baby needs.
  • Breast milk is free and always ready.
  • Breast milk is ideal for brain growth.
  • Nursing encourages proper alignment of teeth and good speech development.
  • Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, stomach upsets, tooth decay, allergies and other illnesses than formula-fed babies.
  • Breastfed babies are less likely to develop juvenile-onset diabetes (Type I diabetes) and certain kinds of cancer.
  • Nursing hormones are soothing to the new mother.
  • Breastfeeding helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnant shape and burns extra calories every day.
  • Breastfed babies can be nursed discreetly anywhere.
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